An eminent domain lawsuit filed by the Board of Regents will go to trial on Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. in the DeKalb County Courthouse before Circuit Judge Rex Meilinger.

The Regents filed the suit in October 1987 on NIU’s behalf to determine how much land south of the NIU campus the university can obtain from the current landowners. The property involved in the lawsuit is located between Lincoln Terrace and Lincoln Highway, and between Carroll Avenue and Normal Road.

A pre-trial held on Dec. 1 determined that a settlement could not be reached between the Regents and the residents.

James Arndt, 105 Normal Road, said “I think it’s (going to trial) a position that we have to take because they (Regents) are not willing to negotiate. They have not come back with any realistic counteroffers.” The Regents are trying to obtain Arndt’s property with the lawsuit.

“The way I see it, it will go to court. Let the jury decide it,” Arndt said.